Air India lifts Hockey India National title

March 24, 2014 4:33 pm

Agencies, Lucknow
Defending champions Air India Sports Promotion Board retained their title as they defeated Comptroller & Auditor General Of India 4-1 in an exciting final of the 4th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium here today. Air India was high on confidence from the very first minute of the match. Bagging a penalty corner opportunity in the 14th minute, Gaganpreet Singh pounded the ball to the net giving the team the 1st goal of the match. The second goal was yet again a penalty corner which was again converted by Gaganpreet Singh in the 29th minute. Going in the break the team was leading 2 goals to 0.

In the second half the team kept its momentum on and did not give Comptroller & Auditor General of India any opportunity to take over. Air India immediately in the 39th minute pounded their 3rd goal when Gaganpreet Singh scored his 3rd successive goal through a penalty corner, giving the team a lead of 3-0. In the 59th minute Comptroller & Auditor General of India got a penalty strike which was taken by Dhyan Sungh and successfully converted. Air India added 1 more goal and which gave them a well deserved win and the trophy of the 4th National Hockey Sr. Men National Championship (Division A).

Earlier, in the other match of the day, hosts Uttar Pradesh overcame Railway Sports Promotion Board 4-2 to claim third position in the championship. It was Railway Promotion Board who opened the score card by scoring through a field goal in the 12th minute. It was Belsajar Horo who scored for the team and giving the lead of 1-0. Uttar Pradesh went on the attack immediately and in the 24th minute Tushar Khandekar hit the equalizer.

At the end of first half the score card read 1-1. In the second half Uttar Pradesh continued its attack and in the 41st minute the team got a penalty corner opportunity which was easily converted by Diwarkar Ram. The team did not stop here and added 2 more goals in the 51st and 60th minute, giving themselves a lead of 4-1. Railway Sport Promotion Board trying to make a comeback in the game hit their second goal in the 65th minute and it was again Belsajar Horo who successfully scored the penalty corner opportunity that the team bagged.